Leading-in wire assembly for vacuum tubes



v s. THRONSEN. LEADING-IN WIRE ASSEMBLY FOR VACUUM TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2251919- lfi fi fin Patented Oct 24%, 19220 Patented Unit. 24, i922.

UNHTED STATES PATENT @FFHCE.

SIGURD THRONSEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR To WESTERN ELEoTRIc COM- PANY, INCORPORATED, OE NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

LEADING-IN WIRE ASSEMBLY FOR VACUUM TUBES.

Application filed October 22, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIGURD THRONSEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ch cago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invente certain new and useful Improvements in Leading-in Wire Assemblies' for Vacuum Tubes, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to tools and special devices for manipulating and assembhng manufactured articles.

The Object is to provide a simple and convenient tool in the nature of a jig for assembling the lead-in wires of electric lamps or vacuum tubes.

These wires are anchored in a tubular glass stem in which they must lie 1n predetermined relationship and from which they project the predetermined distance. They are secured by flowing the glass about them and the device of the present invention provides for holding the tube while being heated or otherwise treated and for accurately positioning the wires with the expenditure of little effort on the part of the operator. To these and other ends the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view through a tool constructed in accordance with and illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmetary view of a portion thereof, illustrative of the mode of operation of certain of the parts; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the finished article in the assembly of which the tool is utilized.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

Referring first to Fig. 3, A indicates a tubular portion of the lamp stem having the flared base B. The lead-in Wires C are cut to the proper length and inserted in the tube, after which the latter is heated to a plastic state and the press or squash formed at D by pinching the glass against and about the wires.

Serial No. 382,444.

In the practice of the invention, there is provided a device embodying a tubular stem or handle 1 terminating in a head or platform-2 at its outer end adapted to receive and support the flare B of the glass tube A. The platform is preferably of a laminated structure embodying an intermediate layer 3 of asbestos or similar insulating or heat resisting material surmounting a plate 4 having openings 5 therein, hereinafter referred to. The platform has a central opening 6 in continuation of the tube 1 and rising from the platform to span this aperture is a yoke-shape guide member 7 having perforations 8 therein spaced apart to the extent of the separation desired on the part of the lead wires 0 and of slightly greater diameter than these lead wires so as to support them snugly. At the base. of the tube 1 is a gauge block 9 secured in a reduced portion 10 of the tube by a pin 11.

In use,-the stem A is placed on the plat form 2, as shown in Fig. 1, in alinement with the opening 6 and the interior of the tube 1, in which position it is rou hly centered by the guide 7. The flare is clamped in place by the engaging portions 12 of device hereinafter-referred to. The lead wires C, out to length or otherwise, are then dropped though the tubular glass stem A and one inserted in each of the perforations 8 of the guide 7, which supports them upright and parallel and in the desired spaced relationship. The lower ends of the wires rest on the gauge block 9 and the extent to which they project from the stem is thereby determined. The upper end of the stem B is then heated and when soft pressed in about the wires as described, whereat the stem and wires are ready to be withdrawn from the device as a finished article and the operation repeated with fresh material. The lower end o-fthe handle of the tubular portion 1 is preferably provided with vents 13 and 14 above and below the gauge block 9 for the escape ofi-trapped gases and heat, These products pass through a second tubular handle section 15 threaded into the first below the gauge block and secured to this lower section by screws 16 and the. aid of spacing collars 17 is a non-metallic tubular handle grip 18 open at its lower end and perforated as at 19 for ventilating purposes.

A sleeve 20 on the tubular handle constitutes a guide for a sliding collar or block 21, operating between the plate 4 of the plat-' form and the end-of the grip 18. A laterally projecting finger portion 22 on the collar is normally held abutting the end of the grip by a spring 23 surrounding the sleeve 20 and interposed between the collar and the platform plate 4. By means of this finger portion, the collar may be pushed upwardly against the tension of the spring with the fingers of the hand that grasps the grip. A ring 24 surrounds the sliding collar block 21 and to this ring are pivoted at intervals a plurality of fingers 25, the hooked ends 12 of which are the engaging portions heretofore described as operating to contact with the flare B of the stem and hold it upon the platform. The fingers pass through the openings 5 in the platform plate 4: and below the hooks are bent outwardly at an incline to produce cam surfaces 26.

-When the block 21 is released, the s ring 23 draws it and the hooked fingers ownwardly and the latter engage the outer walls of the apertures 5 with their cam portions to automatically throw the engaging portions 12 inwardly into the region of the flare B, as shown in Fig. 1, while the reverse movement throws them outwardly in the same manner, as shown in Fig. 2, to permit the removal of the stem from the platform with ample clearance and the ready insertion of a new one.

What is claimed is:

1. In a clamping tool of the character described, theccombination with a platform to receive the flare of a lamp stem and means for clamping the stem thereon, of a centrally arranged guide on the platform adapted to receive and position relatively a plurality of lead-in wires inserted through the stem.

2. In a clamping tool of the character described, the combination with a platform to receive the flare of a lamp stem and means for clamping the latter thereon, of a centrally arranged guide on the platform adapted to project within the stem and to receive and position relatively a plurality of lead-in wires inserted through the stem.

. 3. In a clamping tool of the character described, the combination with a platform to receive the flare of a lamp stem and means for clamping the latter thereon, of a centrally arranged guide on the platform adapted to receive and position relatively a plurality of lead-in wires inserted through the stem and a gauge below the platform and guide adapted to abut the ends of the wires.

4. In a clamping tool of the character described, the combination with a tubular handle, a platform at the end thereof to receive the flare of a lamp stem, and means for clamping the latter thereon in alinement with the center of the handle, of a gauge within the handle for limiting the positions of lead-in wires inserted through the stem.

5. In a clamping tool of the character described, the combination with a handle and a platform thereon to receive the flare of a amp stem, of a collar slidable' on the handle, a spring interposed between the collar and platform and clamps carried by the collar and having engaging portions movable toward and from the surface of the platform with the corresponding movements of the collar. 80

6. In a clamping tool of the character described, the combination with ahandle and a platform thereon to receive the flare of a.

lamp stem and havin guide openings therein, of a collar slida ble on'the handle, a spring interposed between the collar and platform and clamping hooks pivoted to the collar to extend through the guide openings in the platform and engage the-flare, said hooks having cam surfaces in the region of the guide openings to cause them to move radially of the platform when released.

In a clamping tool of the character described, the combination with a handle having a platform at one end to receive the flare of a vacuum tube stem, of a collar slidable on the handle and carrying clamping devices to engage the flare of the stem and secureit on the platform, a spring interposed between the platform and collar to so actuate the clamplng devices, and a grip on the handle acting to limit the movement of the collar.

8. In a clamping tool of the character described, the combination with a handle having a platform at one end to receive the flare of a vacuum tube stem and a grip at the other, of a collar slidable on the handle and carrying clamping devices to engage the flare of the stem and secure it to the plat- 10 form, said collar having a laterally projectin finger portion of greater diameter than t e handle grip and adapted to be engaged and. actuated by the fingers as the hand grasps the grip.

9. In a clamplng tool of the character' described, the combination with a platform to receive the flare of a vacuum tube stem and means for clamping the latter thereon, of a guide on the platform to receive and position relatively a plurality ofl lead-in wires inserted through the stem and to also center the stem in position-on the platform.

10. In a clamping tool of the character described, the combination with a perforated platform to receive the flare of a vacuum tube stem and means for clamping the latter thereon, of a tubular handle portion for the platform having a gauge block therein to support lead-in Wires inserted in the stem and provided with vents for entrapped gases.

11. In a device of the character described, a handle, a platform carried by said handle and having apertures, a collar slidably mounted on said handle, hooks pivotally mounted on -said collar and extending through said apertures said hooks being adapted to clamp the flare of a stem on the platform.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 18th day of October, A. l),

SIGURD THRQNSEN. 

